From pollution to solution - Video conference # 4 – 05.07.11

During the fourth video conference three mayor issues were discussed: the final student plans on the Via Mangue project, the plan for revitalizing the inner city of Recife and the water situation in Recife. Since the first two subjects were extensively described in earlier posts, we will now focus on the water issue.

In Amsterdam cleaner water and a nice waterfront turn out to be huge assets for the identity of a location and a better liveability of an area. The water also offers opportunities to generate sustainable energy. In all these matters it's very important to have the community involved. How are these things going in Recife?

There is a big problem in Recife with pollution of the surface water by sewage because the sewage system is very basic. Architect Julien Ineichen investigates ways to work on a better sanitation system using architecture. A key thing is to tackle the cultural problem that the Recifens don't seem to care for cleaner water. For this purpose he conducts the campaign 'Eu quero nadar no Capibaribe, e voce?/I want to swim in the Capibaribe, and you?'. Via a website (http://capibaribe.info/, http://swimmingtherivers.net/) and regular events he aims to create a positive identity of the Capibaribe and invites the public to participate.

Paulien Hartog from Waternet is impressed by the project; it seems to be a good initiative to trigger community involvement. The main question if people are willing to change their behaviour, is a challenge in Amsterdam as well. We may have a good 'top-down system' but we have to combine it with bottom-up initiatives. A nice reference are swimming pools in the river like they have in Amsterdam, Kopenhagen and Berlin. People can experience what it would be like to swim in the river.

Regarding the sewerage system in Recife, this should obviously be improved. In Amsterdam we have an efficient system, but because this 'traditional' system is firmly in place, newer, better systems are difficult to implement. Having areas with no system at all is sometimes a good thing, so you can immediately start with realizing the best solutions.

Ana Virginia from COMPESA (Sanitation company of Pernambuco) explains how Recife is working on better water sanitation. The sewerage system is facilitated by Compesa, the public water drainage by the municipality. The two networks sometimes are interconnected – without the owners knowing! - which often leads to overuse. Together with private parties they now are working on a project to provide sewerage for the whole metropolitan region of Recife.

    Hanneke's Boom Amsterdam

A main challenge, both in Recife and in Amsterdam, is how to make sure drainage and sanitation solutions are integrated in urban development.

Flora van Gaalen

Students project: Transforming Via Mangue's territory into a District Park.

In video conference #4 the student's project presented a new concept of how to intervene in the area of study. Since there is a lack of green and public spaces in Boa Viagem and Pina's districts the idea is to expand the mangrove into the city, by transforming these districts into a District Park. The main objective of this concept is to highlight and to create new public and green spaces throughout the area providing a new pleasant environment where the citizens and the city interact.

One of the main challenges of this project is how to trespass the barrier created by the Via Mangue's construction. Although this freeway promises to relief Recife's chaotic traffic, other negative aspects of its design and characteristics must be discussed, such as the fact it does not contemplate public transportation, it mostly blocks the view and the access to the mangrove and it does not present any sustainable solutions.

The students developed ten different macro plans according to the concept of a District Park, indicating possible solutions for social and urban problems, which may already pre-exist or appear as a result of Via Mangue. One of the projects is the one located in a Zone of Special Social Interest (ZEIS). This project's proposal seeks to break high-density blocks and to transform the neighbourhood into an open and healthy space, guarantying a better quality of life the community.

After October's exposition at ARCAM the students intend to expose this project to Recife's City Hall to provoke a debate among the citizens about Recife's urban problems and necessities; projects developed by public/private partnership and, most importantly, what is their opinion and suggestions concerning these subjects.

Amanda Dias, Morgana Lima and Fernanda Lins

I Amsterdam, We’Recife

ARCAM organized a workshop with Robson Canuto da Silva (State of Pernambuco), Cristiano Borba do Nascimento (Fundaj) and George Alex Da Guia (Iphan) who participated in the Course on Urban Heritage Strategies organized by IHS and the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency.

ARCAM invited some Dutch architects, urban planners and researchers to get an introduction on Recife and discuss the state of affairs in urban planning in Amsterdam and Recife and more specifically the case that Robson, Cristiano and George are working on, namely the 'revitalisation of the historical inner city of Recife'. Special guests are Martine de Wit (DUS Architects), Johan Rasmussen (Cities), Jaap Klarenbeek (Studio Rosa), Karla Gutierrez (DRO) and Zineb Seghrouchni (Okra/Studio Papaver).

Recife is the fifth biggest city of Brasil and one of the oldest capitals. Originally Recife was the port of Olinda, a settlement founded by the Portuguese. In 1630 it was conquered by the Dutch who firmly 'founded' Recife by adding 'Mauritsstad' which was connected to Bairro do Recife by the first bridge of the Americas and has a Dutch urban outlay that is still visible today.

Nowadays this part of the old inner city is very crowded between 7am and 5pm with all kinds of commercial activities. But because people don't live there, after 5pm it gets quiet and dangerous. 

The case that Robson, Cristiano and George are working on is how to revitalize the area to make it more attractive and safe by respecting and even articulating the heritage as a value. They focus on the crossing of the Av. Dantas Barreto and the Av. Guararapes. The municipality wants to attract the creative industry to take root in this district.

Overall it is important to note that Recife does not have one overarching master plan for the development of the city, but that developments are guided by zoning plans. Most of the land is privately owned, what makes it difficult for the government to implement a coherent vision. At the same time one could say this makes the city very flexible since private investors can quickly respond to demands from the market.

Some remarks, recommendations and questions mentioned in the workshop are:

- Use the fabric shops and haberdasherries to make a connection with the creative people (like fashion designers) that could be interested to live/have their studios in the area. Start from the existing activities!

- Suggest architectural interventions to make living above the shops possible (also a challenge in Amsterdam and Utrecht!)

- Think about how preservation of heritage and tourism are related. Is there a strong link and could tourism be used to attract investors in heritage?

- The most special feature of this area in Recife is that it is surrounded by water. Highlight this aspect by showing ways in which this area could open up more to the water. (Amsterdam is also reorienting towards the water!)

- Amsterdam could learn from Recife how to 'plan' with less means. More collaboration with private parties, letting loose control, create space for self initiative and work on a smaller scale could be suggestions.

Flora van Gaalen